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Configurator option requires more in-depth information than the basic order entry procedure. There are some further pre-requisites that must be entered prior to using the Configurator. This is a powerful and flexible module and typically requires the assistance of Seradex OrderStream personnel to setup and use.
Set-up is required in the following sequence:
| • | Create or assign an Excel Rules workbook for each product line. Multiple product lines can use the same excel workbook if the product line setup permits it. |
To help with defining the differences between Product Lines, Properties, Categories, Items etc. as used in the Seradex system, we have provided the definitions and examples below. You can Setup an unlimited number of product lines and each product line can have an unlimited number of properties. We have limited this example to six properties for illustration only.
Each property can have a predefined list of available options or the user can type in a value not in the list. A property may be simply a Yes or No option.
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Rectangular Table
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Width
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Length
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Height
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Top Species
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Base Style
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Base Color
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Round Table
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Diameter
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Top Species
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Base Style
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Base Color
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Edge Treatment
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Delivery or pickup
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Computer
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Processor Speed
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Video Card
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RAM
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Hard Drive Size
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Sound System
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Modem
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Window
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Height
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Width
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Color
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Glass Options
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Lock
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Car
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Exterior Color
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Interior Color
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Engine
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Sound System
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Transmission
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Power Windows
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Sign
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Length
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Width
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Number of Colors
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Fabric
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Installation
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The first step in architecting a configurator solution is to create an Excel sheet in the above format. Some tips and approaches to consider:
| • | If 80% of Rectangular Table orders require 6 choices and 20% require 24 choices you may consider setting up two product lines |
| • | You will need to balance conflicting needs of the fewer number of product lines the better while the fewest choices on a product line are also advantageous. So you could have a large number of product lines each with a few choices or a small number of product lines with a large number of choices. If you have a large number of choices typically many of the choices will not be required for a particular order and this can lead to confusion and errors on the part of customer service. |
| • | You can review the sample configurator setups and Excel sheets provided for the sample Seradex database for ideas |
The approach strongly recommended is to first complete database setup and ensure you have a clean integrity check. Then to identify a commonly sold product that is not too complex. A product line and configurator sheet is then setup for this product line. Estimates, Sales Orders and Work Orders can then be created to test and refine the logic. Once you are satisfied with the results the spreadsheet should be reformatted so that its logic, structure, rules and layout are very easy to follow. In the future you will likely make more changes to these sheets so you will want to make future maintenance as easy as possible.
After completing this step additional product lines and spreadsheets can be created. If you setup many product lines before testing you will end up changing all the sheets numerous times and this is time consuming and inefficient.
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